Improvement in mail-bag catches



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. D. MERRY. Mail-Bag Catch.

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PATENT Orrron.

oounrnnnn n. MERRYT,

or BURGH HILL, 01110.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG CATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.197,388, dated November20, 1877; application filed September 28, 1877. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,GoUn-'rLA1vn D. MERRY, of Burgh Hill, in the countyof Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and ImprovedApparatus for Receiving and Delivering Packages to and from Railway-Gars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andcomplete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of the same.

Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus, and showing its relation to arailway-car. Fig. 2 is an end view of ,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view ofthe apparatus in connection with a railway-car, and Fig. 4. is adetached see- A Like letters of reference refer to like parts in theseveral views.

The object of this invention is for the purpose of receiving anddelivering mail-bags and other packages to and from the various stationsby railway-cars in motion, and also to avoid the injury to the packageand personal danger in delivering mail-packages by the means now usedwith the train in motion.

The construction and operation of the said invention will be understoodfrom the following specification.

The truck A, Fig. 1, is provided with four or more grooved wheels, whichT1111 and carry the truck along the track or way B B, which forms twoinclined planes, as seen in Fig. 1. These planes or tracks are made ofmanifold wire, or are made in a single piece of iron rod.

The ends of the track are secured to suitable frame-work at theirextreme ends, in such way as to give the proper tension to the tracks,and also support the load of the truck. To said truck is connected aframe-work, 0, upon which is pivoted the spring-jaws D, Figs. 2 and 3,at the points E E, Fig. 3, to atop plate of said frame.

Between the jaws is placed a spring, F, which is also secured to theplate, and to which the jaws are hinged or pivoted. The spring F may beconnected with the jaws otherwise than as stated, to produce the resultrequired. At or near the ends of the jaws or levers l) are connectedsprings Gr, Fig. 3, the outer ends of which are fastened to the jaws,

from which point they curve to the angle, and from which point thesprings extend the levers, as seen in Fig. 3. This return or angle ofthe springs G through the jaws acts as a support and guide for the freeends .of the springs.

In Figs. 2 and 3, H represents the section of a railway-car, to which isconnected another part of the apparatus to be used in connection withthe mechanism before described, as follows: To the side of the car ishinged the crane I, as near the side door as may be for the purpose, andfor the convenient manipulation of the apparatus.

To the lower limb of the crane is connected an arm, J, which admits ofavertical adjustment upon the shaft or lower limb of the crane,according to length or size of the bag or package to be placed betweenthe arm J and the crane-arm K for delivery. The rod L, Fig. 2, is hookedor hinged atM to the arm J, and from-the rod projects a pin, N, whichextends through a hole in the arm J, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

Near'the end of the O, and to the under side is hinged the adjustablefinger P. To the rod 0 is also fastened one end of the spring Q. Thefree end of this spring turns and passes through the end of the finger.P and the rod 0, as shownin Fig. 2.

Attached to and projecting from the finger P is a T-headed hook, R,which overlaps on the rod Oon either side, depending upon the directionof the train, or whichever side the package is to be delivered, as willhereinafter be more fully set forth.

'1 and 2; or the bag or package may be connected to suitable frames, asshown at T, with rings or loops at the ends for hanging the frame withits contents to the rod L and finger S S, in the same way as beforementioned.

- The extreme end of the rod L is curved down, and at a short distancefrom the end is apin. This pin and to prevent the loop of the .bag orframe from slipping outof place while being held ready to be deliveredas the train is moving rapidly along to the station where is located theap through arm K is jointed the rod The bag may be made with loops atits ends, the bottom loop receiving the rod L and the top loop thefinger P, as indicated at S S, Figs.

the curved end referred paratus just described for receiving the packagefrom the express or mail car.

Each station where the bag is to be delivered is provided with the saidapparatus, and

also for the purpose of attachingthe bag to the crane from the inside ofthe car through the side door while the train is going. After the baghas been attached to the crane in the manner before mentioned, and onnearing the station, the crane is turned at a right angle to the car,and as the train passes the station the rod 0 is brought in contact withthe post U. This contact moves back this rod, and in moving backdisengages the T-headed ,hook R from this rod, and at once causes thefinger P i to be disengaged or hang down, freeing the upper end of thebag at the same instant that the upper end of the bag is freed from itssus pension to the finger P. The lower end, at S, is also free by thedropping down of the rod L, which moves down the pin N from the hole inthe arm J, so that the rod L is free to move down and laterally by itsjointed connection at M. Hence, the suspension of the package at S S isinstantly relieved by the contact of the rod 0 and post U as the'trainpasses along.

At the same moment that the bag is disengaged from the crane it iscarried between the jaws D at a, Fig. 3.

Supposing the train to be going in. the di- I rection of the arrow, whenthe bag is received by the jaws, the crane swings back against the sideof the car, out of the way, by the momentum of the train.

The truck upon which the jaws or levers are mounted is placed upon thehighest point or grade of the track B before the approach of the train,and is retained in this position, as seen in Fig. 1, bya spring hook orcatch, V. This catch is so arranged that it has but a slight hold uponthe truck, and from which the truck is easily detached by the force ofthe package as it enters the jaws; hence, as soon as the jaws receivethe bag, the truck becomes detached from the catch, and slides down thetrack by its own gravity, and the force which may have been exerted uponthe truck, by the momentum of the train in delivering the package is toa great extent neutralized by the movement of the truck down the track Bin the line of direction with the passing train.

The movement of the truck prevents any sudden jar or strain in any partof the apparatus, and the bag or package is not subject to any rough orsudden resistance, as is the case when the bag is thrown 011' the trainupon the platform of the station. By the latter mode of delivery the bagsoon becomes worn, out, or torn by the rough and severe usage to whichit is thus subjected.

Thistpractice of delivery is also dangerous to persons about theplatform and station, which objections are avoided by the use of thedescribed improvement. I The momentum attained by the truck-in itsdescent is retarded by its attempt to ascend the upgrade b. Theresistance of this upgrade to the moving truck will cause it to bebrought to rest at the base of the grades, and

this resistance to the moving truck will beeasy, and without anyprecipitate jar or strain to the package or the apparatus.

The spring F is of suflicient force to hold the levers in close contactwith the bag, in connection with the springs Gr. These springs also easethe strain upon the bag when received into the jaws, and also upon theapparatus, thereby avoiding any tearing or breaking in delivering.

In case a-train is going in a course opposite to the arrow, the workingof the apparatus will be the same as before described, as it makes nodifi'erence, so far as the practical operationof the said invention isconcerned, in which direction the train may be passing over the road.

In delivering packages to the passing train, the package is first placedbetween the jaws .at c, which are on the opposite side from the jawswhich receive the package from the train,

the bag being extended or raised up above the jaws as far as possible,at the same time allowing suflicient of the lower part to be held inplace between the jaws.

The car for receiving the package is provided with the mechanism nowused for taking mail-bags or other similar apparatus. By this means thepackage is taken from the jaws and received on the train, and the actionof the truck, in moving in the direction of the passing train, relievesthe bag or package, and

also the apparatus, from undue strain and casualties, substantially inthe same way as described in delivering the bag from the train to thejaws.

In case the train is going in an opposite direction to the arrow, thecrane and its devices may remain as shown, or be connected to the car bythe staples or lugs at W. The truck would be placed on the oppositegrade at b, which arrangement in result would be the same as described.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The jaws orlevers Gr,pivotedtothe truck, and provided with springs D,in combination with the spring F, and truck mounted upon the track orway, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The pivoted or hinged jaws G, in combi= nation with the truck andway, as and for the purpose substantiallyas described.

3. The crane I, arm J, and rod L, in combi 5. The spring Q and rod 0, incombination with the crane-finger P and hook R, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

6. The crane having connected. therewith the hinged rod L, rod. 0, andfinger P, with its hook, in combination with the jaws, mounted upon atruck, and post U, substantiallyas described, and for the purpose setforth.

OOURTLAND D. MERRY.

Witnesses:

F. F. MERRY, A. R. FELL.

